Corn harvester



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J. T. HESS.

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001m HARVESTER. No. 357,673. Patented Feb. 15, 1887.

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JOSEPH T. HESS, OF DUFFIELDS, WEST VIRGINIA.

CORN-HARVESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 357,673, dated February 15, 1887.

Application filed October 16, 1885. Serial No. 180,055. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH T. HESS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Duffields, inthe county of Jefferson and State of WVest Virginia, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Corn-Harvesters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and tothe letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figurel of the drawings is a top plan view of my improved corn-harvester; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section thereof, taken on line a: as of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 3, a longitudinal section taken on linezz; Fig. 4, a perspective view in detail of the revolving reel; Fig. 5, a longitudinal section taken on liney y of Fig. 1; Fig. 6, a horizontal section taken on line 00 x of Fig. 5; Fig. 7, a detail view in perspective of one of the revolving arms carrying the pivoted dog; and Fig. 8 is a similar View of the lower end ofthe elevator.

The present invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in cornharvesters, and the object thereof is to provide simple and effective means fortaking the corn from the elevator and carrying it to the cutters or knives; and it consists in the details of construction, substantially as shown'in the drawings, and hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a longitudinal beam, to which the team is attached, said beam at its rear end having connected thereto the stationary axle a, upon which are mounted the usual wheels, B. The inner one of the wheels B is provided with a sprocket-wheel, Z), to receive a sprocket-chain, c, which passes over a tighteningpulley, O, and also engages with asmall sprocket-wheel, d. The roller or pulley O is journaled in an adjustable bracket, 6, and the shaft f, upon which the sprocket-wheel d is keyed, passes loosely through the stationary cam D, and has secured to its end the radial arms E. The arms E have pivoted to them dogs F, which are provided at their outer ends with pins g, stops h upon the arms preventing the dogs from being thrown out too far. The arms E are connected by a circular brace, i, which strengthens them, and to the ends of said arms are attached claws G, for taking up the corn from the elevator.

The sprocket wheels and chain, above described, are for the purpose of operating the radial arms which carry the dogs and the claws, the chain also engaging with a third sprocket-wheel, j, secu red to one end of a shaft, k. To the opposite end of the shaft k is secured a sprocket-wheel, Z, over which passes a sprocket-chain, or, said chain extending to and over a sprocket-wheel, n, upon the shaft of a reel, H, by which the same is operated.

Any system of chains and sprocket-wheels may be substituted for those shown and described, or any well-known form of gearing, as the means employed for imparting to the arms E and reel H the necessary rotary motion form no part of my invention.

The reel H consists of the radial arms I, the wire spring J, connected thereto, and the fingers K, which are each formed with a shank, 0, pivoted by staples to the radial arms, and having eyes p at their extremities to encircle the wire spring, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4.

The reel H is journaled to the end of a beam, L, said beam being attached to a cross-brace, M, upon the frame of the machine. The beam L has an inclined (=am-reeess, g, which operates the fingers K as they come against it, the fingers being held rigid by a spring, 1*, when pressing the corn back.

The machine is provided with a hinged platform, N, which may be raised or lowered by means of a lever, 0, said platform being immediately in the rear of the cutters P.

An elevator, R, is provided, which may be of any of the usual forms, but in the present instance consists of an endless sprocket-chain provided with claws and engaging with suitable sprocket-wheels operated in any well-known manner. The elevator It is preferably pivoted to the beam A, and is raised or lowered by a foot-lever, S, controlled by the driver on the seat T.

In the operation of the machine, as the same is drawn forward by the team, the elevator R takes up what corn lies across the row and carries it back to the radial arms E, when the pivoted dogs F take hold of it and carry it back against the knives or cutters P, the claws G assisting the dogs in taking the corn off the elevator. As the arms E are revolved the double cam D will force the dogs F outward as they approach the elevator, in order to act on the corn, and areimmediately drawn back after the corn has been cut.

One or more elevators may be used, as found desirable, and when turning the machine the elevator is raised by the foot-treadle S, to prevent the elevator from coming in contact with any object on the ground.

The fingers K, as they come successively against the standing corn, yield and are pressed inwardly against the surface of the arms I, and immediately when the pressure is removed therefrom the spring J will force each finger back to its normal position.

The fingers K, as they come in their turn against the spriugr, are held sufficiently rigid to force the corn back over and against the edge of the knives or cutters P, and when said fingers come against the cam q on the beam L they are pressed inwardly sufficiently to allow the arms I to pass without obstruction in the line of rotation.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A corn-harvester provided with an elevator, a series of rotary arms having pivoted thereto dogs with pins for taking the corn from the elevator, and a cam device for operating the dogs, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A corn-harvester provided with a revolving reel consisting of radial arms carrying automatically-operating fingers, a spring for bolding the arms rigid when coming in contact therewith, and a cam for depressing the fingers, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH T. HESS.

Witnesses:

W. E. STEARNS, M. P. CALLAN. 

